A 2024 courtesy bus service schedule on display at the Shilo Stag. Bus departs from the north entrance of CANEX close to Royal Ave and Kingston. Photo K-J Millar/Shilo Stag.
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag
UPDATED: Aug. 8, 2023
The CFB Shilo Courtesy Bus Service is letting base residents know it is available as an alternative to personal vehicles for trips into Brandon so everyone can have access to travelling into the nearby city.
Kevin Stouffer, company representative said the service is valuable to many on the base. This includes those wanting to shop during the day or relax for some entertainment in the evening.
“It definitely frees them up to have as much fun as they want with out having to worry how they are going to get back … It allows them to come and go safely,” he said.
The popular service is a busy one and can transport as many as 35 riders in one evening run.
The bus service issued a 2024 schedule on Aug. 1, listing its routes and times available for transportation into Brandon for shopping or leisure.
The seven day a week service runs during the evenings Monday to Thursday, afternoon on Saturday and late morning on Sunday. Travellers leave from the north entrance of CANEX, close to Royal Ave and Kingston.
“The bus also runs once on Friday night and twice on Saturday night to deliver those who want a little taste of the night life to either Houston’s or the Roadhouse,” the bus service notice stated.
“CFB Shilo is proud to provide base residents with a free bus service to and from various locations within Brandon.”
The late bus leaves CANEX on Friday at 10:40 p.m. with return pick ups at 1:50 a.m. and at 2:05 a.m. from local entertainment establishments. Saturday’s first run leaves at 8:30 p.m. with the second trip departing at 10:40 p.m.
The multiple vehicle fleet has been operated by Carolina Loreto for the past eight years, with the largest vehicle being a school bus holding 18 seats, allowing a 36 passenger potential.
“We have two other vehicles which are used for weekday routes,” Stouffer said, adding a Dodge Caravan and a 15 seat shuttle have room for riders to carry home groceries and packages.
For those wishing to complete shopping or groceries, the bus departs from CANEX at 6 p.m. on weekdays delivering passengers to Shoppers Mall at 6:30 p.m. and Corral Centre 10 mins later. Return trips back to base are from the specially allocated CFB Shilo stop outside Sobeys South at 9:40 p.m. Pick ups also occur from the Corral Centre at 9:50 p.m.
The convenience for base residents is even more so with additional pick ups from the city on Saturday. After leaving the base at 2 p.m. to head into town, the bus will collect riders at two different times of 7:30 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. from the mall and ten minutes later at the Corral Centre.
According to the schedule the trip takes about 40 mins. On Sundays riders can hop on board at 11:30 a.m. for a 5 p.m. pick up time at the first stop and a 5:10 p.m. pick up at the second.
The bus delivers people home to a variety of six stops around the base.
Stouffer said the schedule is subject to change and usually does so for statutory holidays. However, there will be no change for the Monday, Aug. 6 holiday. Passengers can call or text the bus service at 204-441-6072 to find about possible schedule changes and holiday times.